The truth behind sinister Momo Challenge suicide game that’s been linked to a string of deaths and is spreading panic

Momo has been described as a deadly suicide game and has been blamed for the deaths of a number of young people. But we reveal the challenge is more of an online craze spread by random, twisted WhatsApp users

Investigation

By Jake Ryan

27th February 2019, 9:00 am

Updated: 27th February 2019, 2:53 pm

By Jake Ryan

Invalid Date,

IT is described as a deadly suicide game sweeping the globe and has been blamed for the deaths of a string of youngsters.

But is Momo a twisted challenge forcing teens to kill themselves or simply an urban myth cooked up by sick internet users?

The Momo user is said to threaten targets, telling them to film the absurd tasks which often involve self-harm and ends with a demand that the player commits suicide or they will be cursed.

But analysis of the challenge online appears to reveal twisted mobile users, who are unconnected to each other, are setting up WhatsApp accounts with the Momo picture simply to spread the craze.

Dr Shahla Ghobadi, viral social media expert at the University of Manchester, said: "These games capture people's attention and can be seen as innovative but we need to direct these people to something more positive and stop them creating dangerous viral games."

The Momo image itself was originally a sculpture created by a Japanese special effects company called Link Factory and displayed in a Tokyo fetish museum in 2016.

Experts have warned the viral nature of Momo means it can quickly spread panic online as twisted internet users seize upon the craze to spread it further.

Dr Shahla Ghobadi, of the University of Manchester, added: "We have seen several examples of similar phenomenon - we see the Momo challenge through WhatsApp and a few years ago we saw the Blue Whale challenge which caused widespread concern and led to self harm and accounts of suicide, especially among teenagers.

"The nature of these things is that a percentage of the population will become compulsive, and not casual, users of online games.

"Can we have more education and more positive challenges to occupy young people? Government policy makers, scientists and researchers need to think how we can use this innovation positively."

And Carolyn Bunting, CEO of online child safety group Internet Matters, said: “The existence of online challenges such as Momo are clearly a matter for concern for parents.

"Our latest Back To School research found 7 out of 10 parents of Year 7 pupils are worried their children will be pushed into dangerous online crazes and challenges.

“While it is important not to panic and jump to conclusions without knowing all of the facts, it is also healthy for parents to sit down with their children and talk about all aspects of their online world.

More World News

BUM DEAL

Patient with stomach ache is found with full 14-piece cutlery set inside intestine